Lack of spare parts triggers the end for old reliable Lee-Enfield rifle

Toronto Star ^ | 10/18/2014 | Joseph Hall

[MileHi]

I have this interesting rifle that started life as a 1917 Enfield. It was sporterized in the ‘50s most likely. Original barrel was turned to creat a long taught sporter taper and re-chambered to .300 H&H. A walnut stock with black and white diamond inlays and high cheek piece was made to fit the barrel shape (nice work). I paid $50 for it.

I had it finished in matt blue and the bolt redone to cock on open, and the scope mounts redone.

The stock was rough and sanding out the diamonds would remove too much material, so I cleaned it up and coated it in truck bed liner. I installed a Timney trigger and a Burris ballistic drop scope.

My hot 200 gr Partition loads will put 3 right around a quarter at 100 yards. Pretty good for that old .06 barrel!

[yarddog]

I got a 1917 in a trade around 1970. It appeared in nice shape but when I fired it, the bullets key holed and obviously accuracy was awful.

I took a better look at the barrel and it was not in too bad shape but out of curiosity I put a .308 bullet in the end of the barrel and to my surprise, it fell all the way through.

I paid a gunsmith to install a new inexpensive barrel. When I picked it up, he apologized that it was not very accurate.

I don’t know if it was the loads he was using or the scope or maybe he was just a bad shot but when I tried it, the groups were under 2 inches and sometimes better. Plenty good enough.

[MileHi]

Plenty good enough.

Yep. I was suprised at how well the .300 H&H shoots. Not sure if the barrel was twisted for 180 gr or 200 gr .06 loads in the day, but it works. The trajectory with those 200 gr Partitions is similar to 165 gr .06 loads so it is an elk thumper for a ways out there.

[Lurker]

Lots of old Enfields were re-barreled in larger calibers for African plains game. Sounds like you got a real interesting piece for a very good price. It must be a hoot to shoot.

[seowulf]

No. These parts are METAL, and metal is notoriously hard to work with.

Huh! I thought they were made out of whale bone; and you can't hunt those without having a bunch of hippies chasing you down in rubber boats.

[GeronL]

These parts are METAL, and metal is notoriously hard to work with

If only humans knew how to make things with metal...

[Squantos]

Agree ..... very nice rifles. Albeit i have converted mine to 7.62x54R . Same cups yet boatloads of the russian surplus still in the safes.

i like em , action is almost as smooth as my old 30-40 Krag Carbine.

I would issue these rangers K98’s for moose and bear patrol. Pallets of those laying around.

Stay Safe !

[Lurker]

That thing must kick like a mule in that caliber. I’ve got a couple Mosin Nagants that sure lt you know you’ve pulled the trigger.

K-98s are a great idea. They’re on the C&R list now I believe and are only a couple hundred or so a copy. For that kind of money you could buy 1 for issue and 2 or 3 more for spare parts.

Hope you’re well my friend. Check six.

[wrench]

“In another 10 years we will be about 100,000 people in number, grunting at one another and scavenging burnt-out buildings looking for a rusty can of beans. “

I wish I could come up with a compelling argument complete with statistics and examples to prove you wrong, but with the events of the last 6 years, and esp the last 6 months, your prediction is likely more accurate than mine.

[Lazamataz]

If only humans knew how to make things with metal...

WOW! That gives me an idea... suppose we HEAT IT until it is malleable or even LIQUID!

I better go patent this amazing idea!

[GeronL]

Okay, but I think there be an extremely limited market for that. :p

[Candor7]

I served as a Canada Ranger in 1978-1981 ( Newfoundland). After turning in my Canadian Lee Enfield No.4 Mk 1 service rifle at the end of my service, I privately purchased a surplus “made in australia” No.4 Mk 1 and it still is going strong.

Canada still has thousands of these rifles stored in barrels of cosmoline.I don’t know why they say they are out of Lee Enfield rifles.

[Squantos]

I know this guy Hohfield personally.... he ran the ranger outreach school in Pecos NM back in the 80’s.

...give it a read ... recoil is no more than a mossy nugget in my experience.

http://jpfo.org/filegen-n-z/smle.htm

Stay Safe !

[Sir_Ed]

What is a “sovereignty patrol”?

Thanks!

Ed

[NorthMountain]

That gives me an idea... suppose we HEAT IT until it is malleable

After you do that, you place it on an some resistant surface and hit it ...

[Lazamataz]

I hit hot stuff all the time.

[Cold Heart]

“What is a “sovereignty patrol”?”

Sounds like border patrol, we used to have one of those.

[Sir_Ed]

Ahhh...I see, thanks!

Ed